DMX was such a paramount figure because he was, almost to a fault, so damn believable. His most charming quality was being three screws loose of a complete toolbox and that character flaw was exactly what the genre needed – a guy who could pile drive all conventional wisdom while threatening to rob your family at gunpoint. In fact, the only “soft” characteristic about him was his resistance towards hard drugs which eventually derailed the career of a man who once looked Jay-Z eye-to-eye in terms of popularity. Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone loves a rookie’s story. Some pan out to become superstars. Others find themselves as permanent punchlines. In Hip-Hop, it’s the same pressure on a different platform. Music relies directly on the consumer’s feedback to determine how much success, if any, the artist will see. If the fans aren’t appreciative, neither are record labels. The music industry’s gift and curse, some would say. In today’s climate, J. Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Pill, Wiz Khalifa, Drake and others are all making strides in the positive direction at the current moment. Read the rest of this entry »

Industry Rule #4085: Never listen to DMX while doing laundry. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By Malik V.

What a difference ten years can make in the career of a hardcore and troubled rapper. Earl Simmons, a.k.a DMX, is currently wrapped up in several legal cases that range from animal cruelty to fraud, and is a far cry from the intimidating, almost gothic MC he entered the game as. Rewind ten years to 1998 back when the Dark Man was just putting his mark on the industry. While Puffy and Ma$e were wearing shiny shirts and Jay-Z was partying on yachts, X was barking ad-libs and rocking hoodies with Timbs. Read the rest of this entry »